Hitching-post



W. B. MUSSELMAN.

(No Model.)

HITGHING POST.

No. 560,299. Patented May 19, 1999.

witness e0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVEIDLER B. MUSSELMAN, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

HITCHING-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,299, dated May 19,1896.

Application filed February 12, 1895. Serial No. 538,093. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WVEIDLER B; MUSsEL- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Hitching-Posts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of hitching-postsconstructed to be lowered into the ground when not required for use, soas to be out of the way; and the object of the invention is to produce apost cheap and simple in construction, and which will be held immovablewhen in an elevated position. I

The invention consists in the construction and combination of thevarious parts, as hereinafter fully described, and then specificallypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is an elevation of the case and post, the post being shownpartially raised from the case. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of thecase, the post being shown in an elevated position therein. Fig. 3 is asection of the case on broken line 00 03 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section ofthe case on broken line y y of Fig.2; Fig. 5, a section of the case andpost on said line y y, and Fig. 6 a section of the post on broken line yy. Fig. 7 is an enlarged side View of the lower end of the post; andFig. 8, a perspective view of the same part, but showing only one wedgeon the post. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of thecase just below broken line y y.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A represents a hollow casehaving a cap A formed or removably secured on the top thereof. In theinner wall of the case are three vertical grooves A extending from thetop of the case to a point a near the bottom thereof. Above the centerof the case wedgeshaped recesses B are formed on corresponding sides ofgrooves A and taper both on the sides and back, so that each recess hasthe form of half of an inverted pyramid, the recesses being separatedfrom said grooves by partitions I). From the tops of partitions brecesses B are extended vertically upward, as

shown at B, somewhat higher than the length of the Wedgeshaped wings onthe post, to be hereinafter described, and above partitions 1) extendedrecesses B open into grooves A D indicates the post, which passesthrough an orifice in cap A and has a collar D on the upper end thatrests upon said cap when the post is housed in the case. A ring D issecured on the top of the post, whereby it is raised and lowered, and towhich the hitching-strap is fastened. On the lower end of post D areformed inverted wedge-shaped wings cl, tapering on their front and sidefaces from their bases downward and of greater depth than recesses B,but of corresponding taper and adapted to engage therein. When the postis housed in the case, wings d are engaged with grooves A of somewhatgreater width than the butts of said wings. For use the post is raiseduntil wings d are opposite the upper part B of recesses B, when the postis turned so as to carry the wings 'into said recesses. The post is thendropped or lowered to engage said wings with the correspondingly-shapedrecesses B. The wings are of greater depth than recesses B, to allow forthe wear of the contacting parts. To again lower the post into the case,the manner of manipulating it is reversed.

Grooves A are carried up through cap A, but after the post is introducedinto the case a stud r is inserted through an opening in the wallthereofinto one of the grooves A to limit the upward movement of thepost.

The engagement of the wings with recesses B secures the post in a rigidposition when elevated. The wings and the corresponding recesses may betapered in but one wayeither on the edges from top to bottom or on thefaces from top to bottom; but the shape shown and described ispreferred. I also prefer to use three recesses and three wings, asgiving the post greater stability. By reason of their shape the wingsautomatically take up the wear of their own sides and of the sides ofthe recesses engaged thereby, for as the contacting parts wear away thewings will continue to settle in their recesses and be rigidly boundtherein, so that when the post is elevated it will always be maintainedin a firm and immovable position.

I do not limit myself to any particular shape of wedge andwedge-recesses. Neitherdo Irestrict myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement of the grooves adjoining the wedge-recessesherein shown and described.

My invention involves a radicaldeparture in the construction andprinciple of operation in hitching-posts, the invention consisting,broadly, in a vertically-movable post having a tapering wing adapted toengage a similarlyshaped recess in an inelosing case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a hitching-post, of a case having areeess thereinof the shape of a wing on the post, a vertically-movable post in saidease, and a tapering wing located on the post with its butt upward, saidwing being adapted to engage the recess in the case, for the purposespecified.

2. The combination, in a hitching-post, of

a case having three recesses therein of the shape of wings on the post,a vertically-movable post in the case, and three tapering wings locatedon the post with their butts upward and adapted to engage the recessesin said post, for the purpose specified.

The combination, of acase provided with vertical grooves thereinextending to, and open at, the top of said ease, and having recessesopening into the grooves, said recesses extending below the openingsinto the grooves, a revoluble post constructed to be raised and loweredin the ease, wings on the post adapted to pass through the openingsbetween the grooves and recesses and to engage the lower port-ions ofsaid recesses, and a stud removably engaging a perforation in the backof one of said grooves above the openings into said recesses, said studprojeeting into the path of travel of the wing e11- gaging said groove,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, in a hitching-post, of a case provided with verticalgroove-s therein extending to, and open at, the top of said case, andhaving recesses opening into the grooves, said grooves having taperinglower ends extending below the openings into said grooves, a revolublepost constructed to be raised and lowered in the case, tapering wings onthe post adapted to pass through the openings between the grooves andrecesses and to engage the tapering ends of said recesses, and a studremovably engaging aperforation in the back of one of said grooves abovethe openings into said recesses, said stud projecting into the path oftravel of the wing engaging said groove, substantially as and for thepurpose specified. \VEIDLER B. MUSSELMAN.

Vitnesses: JAcoB HALBAC'H,

M. R. GERHART.

